Influence of different pacing modalities on the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with sick sinus syndrome

Objective To compare the incidence of atrial fibrillation (Af) in the first 5 years after implantation of single chamber ventricular pacing (VVI) or atrial pacing (AP,including AAI and DDD pacing) in the patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS).Methods 117 cases of SSS patients who had accepted permanent pacing treatment and were continually follow up surveyed for at least 5 years were selected.Follow up surveying was carried out in 83 cases of VVI pacing and in 34 cases of AP pacing by clinical examination,electrocardiography,DCG and pacing parameter measurements.To analyse the incidence of Af in the two groups.Results The total incidence of permanent Af in the first five years after implantation of pacemaker was 17.09% (20/117).The incidence of permanent Af after VVI pacemaker implantation was 22.89% (19/83),the incidence of permanent Af after AP was only 2.94% (1/34); there was a marked significance between VVI pacing and AP pacing (P0.01).Conclusion Among SSS patients treated with pacemaker implantation for at least 5 years,compared the patients with VVI pacing,the patients with atrial pacing had a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation.